One of the best preparations for college is taking college courses. University classes often have a different structure to AP or IB classes students are familiar with in high school, allowing your teen to get acclimated to real college-level work. For students that have placed out of the most rigorous classes in high school, or are interested in studying subjects not offered by their high school, these online University classes open up a whole new world of learning. Additionally many programs offer college credit.
Some courses are instructor paced with a set schedule and required attendance - keeping your teen motivated and on track. Most are self-paced with recorded lectures - benefiting teens that may otherwise have a busy schedule but would still like to be efficient with their spare time. Beware that taking college credit courses in high school does not necessarily mean the credits will roll over to their future college -- it depends on each university’s rules and requirements. Even if credits do not roll over, taking college classes in high school may be useful for students that are not challenged by their current curriculum. College courses may be a way to explore interests, since the breadth and depth of University course offerings widely surpass what is traditionally found in high schools. For certain talented students, college courses may even be used to supplement formal and informal research they are participating in or would like to get into.
There are three types of online university classes.
- Paid college courses that give college credit (and free courses that do not)
- Paid pre-college programs that usually (but not always) offer credit
- Dual enrollment courses that give simultaneous high school and college credit
Paid college courses that give college credit (and free courses that do not)
Straighterline
Straighterline is a low-cost company that offers general education credit courses online. They have partnered with over 100 universities that accept these credits (full list can be found here). StraighterLine requires a $99 Monthly Membership and a purchase of a course, which starts at $59 and includes a free eTextbook. Services with each course include free one-on-one online live tutoring, a writing center, and scheduled or drop-in appointments for assistance. Classes are a combination of reading materials and videos, and include proctored tests and final exams. Over 60 courses are offered.
Cost: $99/month and $59/course
Pros: Cheap credit courses for gen-eds, one-on-one tutoring valuable for students that need additional support
Cons: Only about 100 universities allow the credit to transfer
MOOCs
Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) tend to be non credit university courses offered
to the general public. They are self-paced, taught through online lectures and practice, and offered in nearly every subject. Universities that offer MOOCs include MIT and Stanford. Most other reputable universities, such as Princeton and Harvard, offer MOOCs through websites such as Coursera and EdX. Non-credit MOOCs are most useful for high school students looking to expand their skills or want to prepare for placement tests. MOOCs can also be searched for using Class Central, which is an online database that searches for free courses.
EdX is best known for their certificate programs (which are non-credit courses that still offer certificates of completion) but they also offer a handful of credit courses. A current course offering is listed here and additional information on earning credits can be found here. Some of these courses have an official start date and are instructor-paced, to be finished in about 12 weeks. This is most useful for students that prefer an instructor for motivation. Others are self-paced. Both types are taught through video lectures and exercises created by professors from Arizona State, NYU, MIT and many other Universities. Criteria for passing vary by course, but passing also means that the student can apply for credit, which costs between $300 - $600. These courses, alongside most other courses on EdX and other university websites, can also be taken without credit for between $0 - $100.
Cost: Free - $100, $100 - $300 for credit
Pros: Inexpensive options, wide range of courses (especially in the introductory and intermediate levels)
Cons: Self-paced courses are difficult for some students and require initiative
Paid pre-college programs that usually (but not always) offer credit
Online Pre-College Programs
Several Accredited universities specifically offer online credit and noncredit courses for high schoolers through their websites, labeled “pre-college programs.” Some programs require applications. With some of these online courses, students must clock-in online at set times. Others may allow students to watch online lectures at their own pace, but require students to occasionally meet with a professor or faculty member for additional help or exams. Below is a short list of reputable online pre college programs, labelled with approximate costs, seasons offered, whether it is self-paced and whether college credit is offered.
Offered: Summer, Winter
Cost: $1,520 per credit
Credit: Yes
Application: No
Self-Paced: Yes
Offered: Summer
Cost: $709 - $1309
Credit: No
Application: No
Self-Paced: Yes
Offered: Summer
Cost: $709 - $4500
Credit: Yes
Application: Yes
Self-Paced: No, meetings times depend on course chosen
Offered: Summer
Cost: $1200 - $8000, depending on number of credits the class is worth
Credit: Yes, although non credit options are available at lower prices
Application: No
Self-Paced: Depends on Course
Keep in mind that your local or state universities may offer similar online programs at a cheaper price. It is best to reach out or research your public school options before making commitments to more expensive private universities. In-person summer courses at your local community college are another alternative, although they may not offer the same flexibility as online courses. Dual enrollment is another option, discussed in the next section.
Overall:
Cost: $700 - $3000
Pros: Credit from established universities, sometimes offered during the summer
Cons: Expensive
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment is a term for high school students that take college classes and count those classes for both high school and college credit. They are essentially enrolled in college and high school at the same time. Keep in mind that your student must get permission from their high school to get high school credit from these college courses. This is a very cost friendly option, especially as most public universities offer some form of dual enrollment. Ohio State University, for example, is a public university that has a free online dual enrollment program for in-state students. A short list of online dual enrollment programs available to high school students across America can be found here. It is also useful to look into your local public universities that may offer discounts for in-state students.
Cost: $0 - $1000+ (varies greatly)
Pros: Offers both high school and college credit
Cons: Can get expensive at private universities
For additional information and insights, check out our blog:
Best of Online Learning - Coding
Best of Online Learning - Languages
Most Prestigious Summer Programs
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